Biography of Vatican City

The city of God

June 7, 1929
The birth of Vatican State in 1929, with the signing of the Lateran pacts, puts an end to almost 50 years of disagreement between Church and State. The agreement kicks off at the initiative of Mussolini, aware of the great influence that the Church exerted on the Italian population. Of course, the dictator was far from embracing those typical human and moral values of Christianity but only wanted to cloak his regime of humanistic and benevolent aura. Basically the operation was, in turn, to an instrumentalisation of the Church and Christianity as a whole. Don Luigi Sturzo, who had been forced to disband the popular party wrote: "the fascists back profitable show themselves Catholics and proclaim the rights of religion. But it is well known that overall nor their conception of life, nor their ideal of State have nothing to do with Catholicism as a religion and as moral. They want the State backed by the Church, but by a church to serve and not dominate at helping and not wonder". To do this the then reigning Pontiff appealed Mussolini Pius XI, with the lure of iron out finally the contrasts between the two institutions and reconcile once and for all Italian State requirements with those of the Catholic Church.

The Lateran Treaty

The pacts were called "Lateran" due to the place where the signing took place, namely St John Lateran, the Papal residence. The pacts were composed of two parts. 1) the Treaty concerning the reconstruction of the Papal States within the limits of the Vatican City. It recognizes the need, "to ensure the Holy See the absolute and visible independence", to establish an autonomous territory on which the Pope can exercise its full sovereignty. Was thus created the Vatican City State. 2) Agreed on the relations between Church and State, which set an allowance for the goods of the Church passed to the Italian State. Confirmed also the article 1 of the Statuto albertino, under which "Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion" was considered the only religion of the State.

Characteristics of the Papal States

It has an area of 440,000 square meters of which occupied the Apostolic Palace and 55000 about 25000 from a score of courtyards and squares, including the piazza di San Pietro. Outside the territory of the State enjoy the right of extraterritoriality some minor areas located in Italian territory, on which are built churches or palaces, in general office locations of the Holy See. The Vatican City State is a subject of international law distinct from that of the Holy See, being the first in subordination relationship than the latter. Between the two there is a personal Union, as both the Pope exercises supreme power. The Pontiff, Supreme Head of the Church, is the ruler of the State, with the fullness of the legislative, Executive and judicial powers (law of 1 July 1969, establishes that the Supreme Pontiff shall exercise the legislative and executive powers by means of a Commission, assisted by an advisory body, namely the Council, Cardinals, whom he appointed to a five-year period). The State has its own railway station, a radio station, its own flag, takes coin, stamp, he emits courts, technical, economic and health services.
The protection of the person of the Pope and in general the order within the State are entrusted to Switzerland and to the Supervisory Body Guard. The civil and ecclesiastical organization of the State is autonomous. International representation is ensured by the Holy See; This is part of various international organisations, for example the Universal Postal Union, International Telecommunication Union, the European Broadcasting Union. The judiciary both in civil matters (excluding cases under the jurisdiction of the Court only) and in the criminal proceedings is exercised by the Court of first instance and the Court of appeal. There is also a State Supreme Court. Criminal law and criminal procedure law were set in 1969. Ecclesiastical and religious management belongs? subject to the establishment of 1929? the Vicar General of his Holiness: its jurisdiction also extends to the Lateran Papal Palace and at the Pontifical villas in Castel Gandolfo; exempted from the basilica and rectory of St. Peter.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.